News
COVID-19 vaccines or weekly tests to be mandated for millions of U.S. workers
WASHINGTON — More than 80 million employees of private businesses in the U.S. will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing as part of the Biden administration’s latest strategy for combating the still-surging coronavirus pandemic. The upcoming vaccine rule for companies with at least 100 employees is one plank of an […]
Acequias can help fend off some climate change impacts, researchers say
Centuries-old acequia systems in New Mexico can help offset some effects of climate change, according to Dr. Connie Maxwell, a researcher at the Water and Community Collaboration Lab at New Mexico State University. Her presentation to legislators on Tuesday, Sept. 7, says acequias can mimic slowly melting snowpack, the biggest source of water in the […]
Tenant rights collective calls on Santa Fe City Council to boost protections for renters
The city of Santa Fe might be ready to create its own hotline for tenants facing eviction, but activists are asking them to do a lot more. The Chainbreaker Collective said they hope city and state officials will take their recommendation to expand tenant protections — not just during the pandemic but beyond, making them […]
Report: Indigenous women in the U.S. earn 60 cents on the dollar
Historic inequality for Native American women is still present in economic earnings, according to a report released this week by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Native American women are not receiving their worth from employers for their work. It’s historically bad. “During the last decade, the gender earnings gap for Native women and white […]
Behavioral health provider: ‘I just hope that we’ve learned from history’
Providers are asking New Mexico lawmakers to rebuild the state’s behavioral health care system, which is still plagued by problems after former Gov. Susana Martinez caused many providers to shut down about eight years ago. Lawrence Medina, executive director of the Rio Grande Alcoholism Treatment Program in Taos, N.M., suggested lawmakers provide funding needed to […]
Refugees in Albuquerque holding out hope for their Afghan family members
Although resettlement and other migration-related coordination is typically under international and federal jurisdiction, Afghan people living in Albuquerque continue to work with state officials to help their relatives. Still, today, there’s no clear path forward. As time ticked down last week in Afghanistan after two decades of war, Mohammad Ismail — the refugee coordinator with […]
Emergency rent relief application difficult and misleading, organizers say
Mayela Bernal was already struggling to pay rent when she caught COVID-19 in May, which left her hospitalized for a week. Bernal is a hair stylist who immigrated from Mexico. With the loss of income, her younger child had to take out a loan to pay rent for their apartment in Santa Fe. A friend […]
N.M. vaccine rollout hits the road with mobile clinics at schools
New Mexico continues to take its COVID-19 vaccine efforts to young people. The state’s Department of Health and Public Education Department are hosting several vaccination events this week at campuses in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Española, Tucumcari and Mora. Anyone can get a jab at the mobile vaccination school events, though the focus on getting students […]
PED awards funds to support mental health services in public schools
Three New Mexico school districts were awarded $8.9 million to build resources to support mental health for students. Farmington Municipal Schools, Santa Fe Public Schools and Socorro Consolidated Schools were picked by the state’s Public Education Department to establish mental health service programs staffed by behavioral health specialists within the schools. Funding comes through the […]
N.M. abortion funds overwhelmed by patients from Texas
Abortion rights and health care access advocates in New Mexico described a sense of heaviness as they took an influx of calls from people seeking abortion services in the fallout of last week’s U.S. Supreme Court order. In a one-paragraph, unsigned order issued just before midnight on Wednesday, Sept. 1, the court did not strike […]
Telemedicine abortions offer cheaper options but may also undermine critical clinics
Allison Hansen had just gone through a breakup with her boyfriend last year when she discovered she was pregnant. She already had an 8-year-old son and did not want another child. Hansen called the Planned Parenthood facility near her home in Savannah, Georgia, to inquire about abortion services and was told the procedure would cost […]
Poor access to menstrual products in N.M. creates health hazards
Advocates are illuminating for state legislators the expense of tampons, cups and pads in a low-income state, promising to again seek a tax break on menstrual products in the coming session. Their argument: Cutting the cost is one quick way to create more equity and dignity for people who need these products. Lawmakers balked at […]